Next Tuesday US president-elect Barack Obama would move into his new office and home at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., what the world popularly knows as the White House. There seems to be a genuine feeling of relief and celebration in the air everywhere, including Kenya.
With less than a week to go before Obama takes oath as the 44th President of the USA, news of celebrations has already started trickling in. The Independent tells us that "starting this weekend, more than 10,000 buses as well as countless cars, trains and planes will ferry upwards of 4 million people into Washington, DC.
"Everyone is hoping to catch a glimpse of the new president during his inauguration and they will all have to squeeze on to wide expanse of grass between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial known as The Mall. The weather is expected to be freezing but dry."
Another report from London states: "Cashing in on Obamamania, restaurants, theatres and clubs across the UK are hastily arranging specially-themed inauguration parties to herald the dawn of a new American era."
In New Zealand musicians, storytellers, poets would be among performers who have begun preparations for "open celebrations" to mark the inauguration of US president-elect Barack Obama.
Song and dance will mark US President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration on January 20, albeit thousands of miles from Washington DC.
In the Kenyan village of Obama’s father there will be a five-day cultural extravaganza, in collaboration with the Kenya’s Ministry of Culture and Heritage.
A report says the festival will include traditional songs and dances, poems and artwork, as well as historical narratives of the community.
A community spokesman said that “since everyone could not be invited to accompany (Obama’s Kenyan) family to the US for this momentous occasion, we have prepared a big ceremony down at Kogelo home in Kenya.”
The mainstream media as well as the blogosphere is also revelling in the news ranging from Obama’s mother-in-law agreeing to live in the White House to what would Michelle Obama wear for the inaugural.
Although Obama has enjoyed a wonderful relationship with his mother-in-law Marian Robinson, the Chicago Tribune recalls that "multigenerational White Houses, however, have not always been harmonious.
"Harry Truman’s mother-in-law belittled him constantly while living there, questioning both his policies and ability to govern. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s mother-in-law often wintered at the president’s mansion, where she lounged in bed and bossed around the staff and her daughter, Mamie."